Stand for vending machines



y 13, 1965 H. T. PROBASCO 3, 9

STAND FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1963 Ea. Q

B INVENTOR. 5 62/2040 P20; sea

' BY v L961 9M1 l0 5 7 Arrwe/ws-ys United States Patent 3,194,410 STAND FOR VENDING MACHINES Harold T. Probasco, 6531 Noble Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. Filed Nov. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 320,807 2 Claims. '(Cl. 211-182) This invention relates to stands for vending machines, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a stand for vending machines which is arranged to support a group of vending machines in upper and lower tiers, and which occupies a minimum amount of space.

Second, to provide a stand for vending machines which involves a minimum number of parts which, when disassembled, may form a compact package for shipment, and which may be readily assembled for use.

Third, to provide a stand for vending machines which normally locks the machines in vertically related groups in such a manner that the upper group inhibits unauthorized removal of the covers or containers of the lower group of vending machines, the stand being so arranged that it may be unlocked to move the lower group forward of the upper group for easy access to service the machines.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front view of the stand for vending machines, indicating by broken lines a pair of vending machines mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional veiw taken through 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken through 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken through 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken through 6-6 of FIG. 1, showing one of the mounting clamps removed from the stand;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken through 7-7 of FIG. 6.

The stand for vending machines includes a pair of end frames 1 in the form of inverted U members, each comprising an open loop portion 2 at its upper end joined to downwardly converging legs 3. Intermediate their ends, the legs 3 are joined by a cross strap 4.

A pair of rectangular frames 5 are interposed between the end frames 2. Each rectangular frame includes a pair of vertical sides 6, and horizontal upper and lower sides 7 joined by rounded corner portions.

The end frames 1 and rectangular frames 5 are preferably formed of tubing.

Near their upper ends, the vertical sides 6 of the rectangular frames 5 are perforated to receive bolts 8, which extend horizontally through the open loop portions 2 of the end frames 1 to form pivotal connections between the frames 5 and the frames 1. The two rectangular frames 5 are held in parallel relation with each other by vending machine mounting clamps 9 divided into upper and lower groups, equally spaced on the upper and lower horizontal sides 7.

Each mounting clamp 9 comprises a pair of complementary members 9:: and 91) having semicircular mating notches 10 which fit over the tubing forming the frames 5. The components of each mounting clamp 9 are joined by clamp bolts 11, which extend downwardly from the bottom plate of a vending machine 12 and screw-thread into the mounting clamp or receive nuts.

The mounting clamps 9 are secured to the rectangular frames 5 sufficiently tight to resist sidewise displacement along the sides of the frames, but not sufliciently tight to prevent pivotal movement of the rectangular frames 5 about the axes of the bolts 8. As a consequence, the rec tangular frames 5 may be moved between a vertical position shown by solid lines in FIG. 2 and parallel and inclined position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2.

When the vending machines are in use, the rectangular frames 5 occupy the solid line vertical position. When it is desired to service the lower set of vending machines, the rectangular frames 5 are forced to the inclined position.

In the region of the cross straps 4, the vertical sides 6 of the rectangular frames 5 are joined by connecting bars 13. Each connecting bar includes a horizontal portion 14 having end notches 15 which receive the vertical sides 6. Each connecting bar also includes a vertical portion 16 which confronts the corresponding cross strap 4.

Each cross strap 4 and corresponding connecting bar 13 are provided with mating apertures 17 so that a bolt or a padlock may be inserted, in order to lock the rectangular frames 5 in their normal vertical position. The connecting bars 13 fit loosely to permit the angular movement of the rectangular frames 5.

It will be observed that the vertical dimension of the rectangular frames 5 is such that minimum clearance is provided above the lower group of vending machines 12, so that this group cannot be serviced without tilting the rectangular frames 5 to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2. Thus when the frames 5 are in their normal or solid line position shown in FIG. 2, the top covers of the lower group of vending machines and the merchandise containers are less accessible to unauthorized tampering. This protection is less important for the upper group of vending machines because the top covers and merchandise containers are set high enough to reduce the accessibility.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

- What is claimed is:

1. A stand for vending machines, comprising:

(a) a pair of end frames, each including an upper end forming an open loop and downwardly diverging legs;

(b) a pair of supporting frames, each of rectangular shape to form upper and lower sides and vertical ends;

(c) means pivotally connecting the ends of said supporting frames to the open loops of said end frames;

(d) a set of complementary, vending machine mounting clamp bars disposed along the upper and lower sides of said supporting frames, said clamp bars being adapted to permit limited pivotal movement of said supporting frames between a position disposing said vending machines in vertical relation and a position disposing said vending machines in stepped relation;

(e) and means for securing said supporting frames in a fixed position.

2. A stand for vending machines, comprising:

(a) a pair of end frames, each including an upper end forming an open loop, downwardly diverging legs, and a cross strap connecting said legs;

(b) a pair of supporting frames, each of rectangular shape to form upper and lower sides and vertical ends;

(c) means pivotally connecting the ends of said sup porting frames to the open loops of said end frames;

(d) a set of complementary, vending machine mounting clamp bars disposed along the upper and lower sides of said supporting frames, said clamp bars being adapted to permit limited pivotal movement of said supporting frames between a position disposing said vending machines in vertical relation and a position disposing said vending machines in stepped relation;

(e) and means for secu a fixed position.

5 References Cited byflle Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS" 8/19 Armstrong V 108 ring said supporting frames in r Hbrowitz Hutchingsf 211%81 Snively 2111-182X 'Nieman, 248-281 

1. A STAND FOR VENDING MACHINES, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF END FRAMES, EACH INCLUDING AN UPPER END FORMING AN OPEN LOOP AND DOWNWARDLY DIVERGING LEGS; (B) A PAIR OF SUPPORTING FRAMES, EACH OF RECTANGULARL SHAPE TO FORM UPPER AND LOWER SIDES AND VERTICAL ENDS; (C) MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID SUPPORTING FRAMES TO THE OPEN LOOPS OF SAID END FRAMES; (D) A SET OF COMPLEMENTARY, VENDING MACHINE MOUNTING CLAMP BARS DISPOSED ALONG THE UPPER AND LOWER SIDES OF SAID SUPPORTING FRAMES, SAID CLAMP BARS BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT LIMITED PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORTING FRAMES BETWEEN A POSITION DISPOSING SAID VENDING MACHINES IN VERTICAL RELATION AND A POSITION DISPOSING SAID VENDING MACHINES IN STEPPED RELATION; (E) AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SUPPORTING FRAMES IN A FIXED POSITION. 